Some people think that "Qi" is illusory and elusive. It seems unscientific to admit the existence of "Qi" and advocate "refining Qi". As mentioned earlier, Qi in Qigong is homogeneous with Plana in yoga, and it is a kind of life energy. Qi originates from the concept of Qi in China traditional Taoist culture, which is the further development of the concept of Qi in TCM theory. Although Qi in Qigong cannot be strictly defined by the laws and principles of modern science, its objective phenomena and symptoms do exist. We should recognize its existence from the perspective of materialist scientific theory. As for the revelation of its essence, it needs the further development of scientific and technological means and the further integration of eastern and western sciences. Many concepts in TCM theory, such as meridians, are in the phenomenological stage, and their essence has not been revealed, but we cannot deny their existence and think that the existence of meridians is unscientific. In fact, meridian acupuncture has become an important subject in the system of traditional Chinese medicine, and it has been paid more and more attention by the scientific community in China and even the world. Here, it is necessary to add a little explanation to the problem of "science". There is a saying: "In our world, not only culture is pluralistic, but science is and should be pluralistic." Jung, a master of western modern psychology, once said: "China does have a science, and its standard work is the Book of Changes, but the principle of this science is the same as many other things in China, and it is completely different from our scientific principle." Therefore, we should not take modern western science, which is characterized by exploring the simplicity of nature, as the standard to measure the scientific nature of traditional Chinese medicine, including Qigong. We must get rid of the shackles of this "scientific monism". In a word, "Qi" and "refining Qi" can and should be written into the concept of Qigong. Qigong is an internal training method to achieve physical and mental health by cultivating and mobilizing Qi, that is, life energy. If "Qi" and "refining Qi" are removed, the concept of Qigong will lose its soul.
If you know what qi is, you have to look at it. What is Qigong?
What is Qigong?
Qigong is a kind of physical and mental exercise method with the means of regulating heart, qi and body, preventing and treating diseases, strengthening body and prolonging life, and developing potential. Self-adjustment means adjusting psychological activities, breathing movements, body posture and movements. These three tones are the basic methods of qigong exercise and the three major elements or basic norms of qigong discipline.
The original qigong has no name, and the latter part is called "dance". For example, in Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, "The bones and muscles can't be contracted, so dance is used to promote them". During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Qigong was summarized as "guiding on stilts", such as "flaccidity, cold and heat should be guided on stilts" in Su Wenyi's Treatise on Prescriptions and Medicine, while meditation, fetal interest, moving qi, convincing, regulating qi, Sunday, Neidan, etc., which are scattered in famous works of all ages, also belong to Qigong. As for the word "Qigong", it was first seen in the Ming History by Xu Xun, a Taoist priest in the Jin Dynasty. Even the later works are the Sui and Tang Dynasties at the latest. The book Qi Jing, which appeared after the Sui and Tang Dynasties, recorded that "Qigong is wonderful, and the way of Qigong is similar ...", but its connotation is not completely in line with what we are talking about now. Qigong, which is widely used now, was gradually popularized after the establishment of Beidaihe Qigong Sanatorium in the 1950s.
Qigong is gradually formed in people's practice in production, life and medical treatment. Qigong therapy and exercise therapy are both related and different. Exercise therapy can include exercise therapy, but exercise therapy cannot replace Qigong therapy. Physical exercise is always just one of the means of qigong to adjust the heart, and breathing exercise is also for adjusting the heart. The three tones are a unified whole and must be centered on the adjustment of the heart. The combination of internal training and external training, mainly internal training. Qi in qigong refers to "internal qi" and "true qi", which has a deeper meaning. Qigong therapy has comprehensive characteristics, at least it is a combination of psychotherapy and physical therapy.
Qigong therapy includes psychotherapy, but it is different from psychotherapy. Psychotherapy generally refers to the use of language, expression, posture and attitude by doctors. Reasoning patients who are awake and proposing treatment suggestions; Or use some special induction methods to induce a hypnotic state that is somewhat similar to superficial sleep, and then give treatment suggestions to patients under hypnosis. Therefore, patients are always passive. Qigong therapy is characterized by giving full play to patients' subjective initiative. Under the guidance of doctors, patients can strengthen their self-control ability through self-exercise.
Qigong is essentially different from religion. Qigong, as a science, does not involve the purposes and teachings of various sects, but only extracts scientific connotation from the practice of believers. This is reflected in the Taoist scriptures and Buddhist scriptures, which also record a lot of information about ancient Qigong. In addition, some theories in religion are often used for reference by practitioners.